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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-01-20 Little Rock Board of Directors Special Meeting April 1, 2020 12:00 PM Little Rock Board of Directors Special Called Meeting April 1, 2020 12:00 PM The Board of Directors of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, met in a Special Called Meeting with Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., presiding. City Clerk Susan Langley called the roll with the following Directors present: Richardson (via WebEx Teleconferencing); Webb (via WebEx Teleconferencing); Peck (via WebEx Teleconferencing); Hines; Wright; Fortson (via WebEx Teleconferencing); Kumpuris; Adcock; and Mayor Scott. Directors Absent: Hendrix and Vice-Mayor Wyrick. Director Doris Wright delivered the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. 1. RESOLUTION NO. 15,191: To allow Members of City Boards and Commissions to attend meeting by electronic means and to permit a Member to vote on certain procedural aspects of an ordinance and to be counted as if Present if any ordnance has been approved which allows a Member to be in attendance by electronic means; and for other purposes. Staff recommends approval. Director Richardson asked how it would be handled if any of the individuals currently serving on one of the City's Boards or Commissions did not have access to the Internet. City Attorney Tom Carpenter stated that if the individual did not have the ability to participate via the Internet, they could participate telephonically as long as a City Staff person was with them to attest to the identity of the individual and to verify how they voted. Director Adcock made the motion, seconded by Director Hines, to approve the resolution. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the resolution was approved. 2. ORDINANCE NO. 21,848: To amend Little Rock, Ark., Ordinance No. 21,817 (December 3, 2019), to adjust the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Ordinance to reflect expenditure adjustments for the General Fund; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes. Staff recommends approval. Synopsis: Four (4) adjustments need to be made to the 2020 Budget to reduce General Fund expenditures due to the anticipated economic impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The ordinance was read the first time. Director Adcock made the motion, seconded by Director Wright, to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on second reading. By voice vote of the Board Members present, with Director Richardson voting in opposition, the rules were suspended and the ordinance was read a second time. Director Adcock made the motion, seconded by Director Wright, to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on third reading. By voice vote of the Board Members present, with Director Richardson voting in opposition, the rules were suspended and the ordinance was read a third time. Director Richardson asked why the Summer Youth Employment Program and the Summer Playground Programs were being totally eliminated. City Manager Bruce Moore stated that the issue dealt more with timing and that the City had already received 1 Little Rock Board of Directors Special Meeting April 1, 2020 12:00 PM over 1,000 applications for the Summer Youth Employment Program. City Manager Moore stated that Community Programs Staff normally worked during the months of March and April to begin on-boarding and training of the participants, which included divided the applicants up into groups of approximately 200 to begin that process. City Manager Moore stated that with the required social distancing, it would be impossible to process and train all the applicants in order to have a Summer Youth Employment Program that year. In addition, City Manager Moore stated that as a result of the social distancing aspect, along with the fact that the City's Community Centers were closed, it was not possible to hold the Summer Playground Programs. Director Richardson stated that not all the summer jobs were inside around large groups of individuals and he would like to see if the City could at least employee a fewer number of youth to continue with the program. Director Richardson stated that it was his understanding that when FUTURE Little Rock recommended the Prevention, Intervention and Treatment (PIT) Funds, the intent was not to pay staff out of the funding. City Manager Moore stated that there were designated staff members that administered the PIT Programs that were paid with the funding. City Attorney Tom Carpenter stated that the actual expenditure of the funds was left to the general operations of the City in both the 1993 and 2011 tax, and there was nothing improper regarding the operation of the programs. Director Webb stated that the one of the Budget Adjustments included the reduction of part-time personnel, and asked if the discussion had been held regarding any cuts being made to the higher paid individuals within the organization. Mayor Scott stated that this Budget Adjustment was just the first step and depending on how long the pandemic lasted, additional adjustments would have to be made. Mayor Scott stated that each Department designated Essential Employees that were crucial for the continuation of operations and services for the citizens of Little Rock. City Manager Moore stated that the majority of the part-time positions were located within Parks & Recreation, where many of the facilities were closed, and the Little Rock Zoo, which was currently closed to the public. Director Webb asked for further clarification regarding the elimination of the Summer Programs and what the City could do to provide some services once the pandemic was over. Community Programs Director Dana Dossett stated that in regards to the Summer Youth Employment Program, the timing issue was critical and that there would not be adequate time to process all the participants for employment once the pandemic was over. In addition, Ms. Dossett stated that staff had begun receiving calls from perspective employers who were expressing their concerns regarding bringing outside individuals into their workplace. As far as the Summer Playground Programs, the Department of Human Services required them to be licensed and due to the pandemic, some of the programs had not been able to complete the licensing programs and would not be able to complete that process before the summer. Ms. Dossett stated that two (2) of the summer programs — the Reading Program and the Enhancement Program to ensure feeding sites — had not been eliminated and should the pandemic end before the summer was over, they would not take as much time and/or coordination to begin. Director Webb stated that once the pandemic was over, she wanted to the City to commit to serving as many kids as possible during the summer. 2 Little Rock Board of Directors Special Meeting April 1, 2020 12:00 PM By voice vote of the Board Members present, with Director Richardson voting in opposition, the ordinance was approved. By voice vote of the Board Members present, with Director Richardson voting in opposition, the emergency clause failed. Director Kumpuris made the motion, seconded by Director Hines to adjourn the meeting. By unanimous voice vote of the Board Members present, the meeting was adjourned. ATT,ari APPROVED: VC or-iliLL_ Loc.------ ffrAlci—W/ kLaiy, City Clerk i Frank Scott, Jrr 3